Since March 2012 the solo operation of V/Line Sprinter railcars has been banned from the V/Line network.

The initial ban was introduced on 26 March following a track circuit detection failure, and included the complete rail network, but by May 2012 it was loosened so that a single Sprinter DMU consist is allowed to operate in station limits, on local yard moves, and on the Stony Point line.

Before the ban

Sprinter 7022 waiting at Geelong station - May 2007.

Solo Sprinter 7022 waiting at Geelong station

Sprinter 7005 departs Kilmore East on an up Seymour service - December 2008.

Solo Sprinter 7005 on the up leaves Kilmore East

Sprinter 7022 passes beneath the Princes Freeway at Drouin with an up Traralgon service - December 2008.

Solo Sprinter 7022 on the up under the Princes Freeway at Drouin

Sprinter 7007 on an up Seymour service at North Melbourne Junction - September 2011.

Solo Sprinter 7007 on an up Seymour service at North Melbourne Junction

And after

Solo Sprinter 7016 shunts back into the railcar depot at Southern Cross.

Solo Sprinter 7016 shunts back into the railcar depot at Southern Cross

Solo Sprinter 7002 sitting in the platform at Southern Cross.

Solo Sprinter 7002 sitting in the platform at Southern Cross

Footnote: Sprinter rosters as of May 2012

All V/Line lines have sprinters operate on them, as far as Marshall, Bacchus Marsh, Kyneton, Seymour & Traralgon, however, only they only operate Monday to Friday, except for the Seymour line. Most operate as 2 car services, unless noted.

Frankston-Stony Point Line

All services are operated by two sprinters, excluding the following Mon-Fri trains which consist of 1 sprinter. Refer to Metro timetable here for the Frankston-Stony Point line

05:39 Stony Point to Frankston
06:16 Stony Point to Frankston
11:02 Stony Point to Frankston
11:47 Stony Point to Frankston
13:41 Stony Point to Frankston
12:30 Frankston to Stony Point
17:57 Frankston to Stony Point
18:35 Frankston to Stony Point

South Western Mon-Fri

04:43 Marshall to Southern Cross (3 cars)
20:24 Marshall to Southern Cross
19:00 Southern Cross to Marshall (3 cars)
23:00 Southern Cross to Marshall

Western Mon-Fri

05:06 Bacchus Marsh to Southern Cross
08:18 Bacchus Marsh to Southern Cross (3 cars)
08:37 Bacchus Marsh to Southern Cross
07:12 Southern Cross to Bacchus Marsh (5 cars)
18:02 Southern Cross to Bacchus Marsh

Northern Mon-Fri

05:17 Kyneton to Southern Cross
07:18 Sunbury to Southern Cross (5 cars)
08:21 Sunbury to Southern Cross
17:35 Sunbury to Southern Cross (3 cars)
06:27 Southern Cross to Sunbury (5 cars)
07:31 Southern Cross to Sunbury
16:31 Southern Cross to Sunbury (3 cars)
18:33 Southern Cross to Kyneton

North Eastern Mon-Fri

05:34 Seymour to Southern Cross
05:56 Seymour to Southern Cross
09:14 Seymour to Southern Cross
10:14 Seymour to Southern Cross
13:14 Seymour to Southern Cross
16:15 Seymour to Southern Cross (3 cars)
18:25 Seymour to Southern Cross
21:20 Seymour to Southern Cross
06:15 Southern Cross to Seymour
07:16 Southern Cross to Seymour
11:31 Southern Cross to Seymour
14:32 Southern Cross to Seymour (3 cars)
15:32 Southern Cross to Seymour
17:10 Southern Cross to Seymour
19:32 Southern Cross to Seymour
21:42 Southern Cross to Seymour

North Eastern Saturday

06:29 Seymour to Southern Cross
10:29 Seymour to Southern Cross (3 cars)
11:29 Seymour to Southern Cross
13:09 Seymour to Southern Cross
16:09 Seymour to Southern Cross
07:12 Southern Cross to Seymour (3 cars)
10:52 Southern Cross to Seymour
13:52 Southern Cross to Seymour
19:55 Southern Cross to Seymour
21:55 Southern Cross to Seymour
23:55 Southern Cross to Seymour

North Eastern Sunday

06:52 Seymour to Southern Cross
11:29 Seymour to Southern Cross
13:09 Seymour to Southern Cross
14:29 Seymour to Southern Cross
16:09 Seymour to Southern Cross
17:09 Seymour to Southern Cross
10:52 Southern Cross to Seymour
12:32 Southern Cross to Seymour
13:52 Southern Cross to Seymour
15:12 Southern Cross to Seymour
16:32 Southern Cross to Seymour
19:55 Southern Cross to Seymour
21:55 Southern Cross to Seymour

Eastern Mon-Fri

04:47 Traralgon to Southern Cross
16:03 Traralgon to Southern Cross
11:30 Southern Cross to Traralgon
21:45 Southern Cross to Traralgon

Sources

V/Line Network Service Plan Addenda: